Dogs as pets and best friends: 2008

Molly - most popular doggy name

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Bulldog - come back to the top 10

The American Kennel Club announced that the Bulldog, a popular sports team mascot and one of the most recognizable and iconic purebred dogs, has muscled its way into the 10th spot on the organization’s annual list of the most popular breeds in America according to AKC’s 2007 registration figures. The Labrador Retriever retains the title of “Top Dog”— a position it has now held for 17 consecutive years.

“This is the first time the Bulldog has made it onto the top ten list since 1935,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “This breed appeals to a very wide range of dog lovers so it’s no surprise that it is a favorite amongst AKC’s 157 breeds. The Bulldog is both docile and adaptive, and can thrive in small or large homes. It’s an excellent all-around family pet.”
bulldog top10.JPG

The Bulldog was first recognized by the AKC in 1886 – just two years after the organization’s founding – and was most popular in 1915 when it peaked in 5th place. The breed’s popularity ebbed and flowed throughout the mid-20th century, but since hitting a low of 41st place in 1973, its ranking has steadily increased.

Here is the list of the 2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.:

1. Labrador Retriever;
2. Yorkshire Terrier;
3. German Shepherd Dog;
4. Golden Retriever;
5. Beagle;
6. Boxer;
7. Dachshund;
8. Poodle;
9. Shih Tzu;
10. Bulldog.

The AKC looked at the Top 10 breeds in the nation’s 50 largest cities. Some highlights:

* The Bulldog is most popular in Los Angeles where is it currently ranked 2nd right after the Lab.

* Despite having one of the world’s most beloved and renowned Bulldogs as the mascot for its state college sports team – University of Georgia’s “Uga,” – Atlanta is one of the few cities in the nation that did not include the Bulldog in its Top 10.

* The Poodle and Dachshund, who each once enjoyed the top spot in Manhattan (2006, 2005 for the Poodle and 2004 for the Dachshund) now share a tie for 3rd place, ousted by America’s top choice, the Labrador Retriever.

* Detroit, Knoxville, Miami, Honolulu and Orlando are the only cities that do not have the Labrador Retriever in the top spot. Detroit and Miami favor the German Shepherd, Orlando puts the Yorkie in 1st place, Honolulu the Golden Retriever and Knoxville the Boxer.

* Salt Lake City is the only city to place the Shih Tzu in one of its top two spots. It moved from 3rd in 2006 to 2nd in 2007.

* The only cities to not have the Yorkie on their lists are Buffalo, Milwaukee and Des Moines. And, Des Moines had the most unique list of all 50 cities, considering that it shared only four dogs with the national Top 10.

* The Miniature Schnauzer, which was displaced on the national list this year by the Bulldog, still claims top dog status in Oklahoma City where it ranks 3rd, higher than in any other U.S. city.

* San Francisco and Los Angeles were the only cities in the nation to include the French Bulldog in their Top 10 lists.

Most expensive dog collar

From the i Love Dogs La Collection de Bijoux, Amour Amour is the world's most expensive dog collar with the price tag of $1.8 million. It is a one-of-a-kind, stunning, 52 carat diamond dog collar. The collar includes 1600 hand-set diamonds with a seven-carat, D-IF, brilliant cut center diamond. The line of diamond dog collars include other pieces named Juene Cheri, Amour de la Mer, L'Etoile, and Cheri and selling for $280,000 to $480,000.

i Love Dogs La Collection de Bijoux is a stunning line of dog collars that showcases over one hundred carats of sparkling diamonds and exquisite jewels.

These breathtaking, limited-edition collars are in a class of their own, and are most certainly the first of their kind. Even the most pampered pooch will stop in its tracks for the chance to wear one of these elegant beauties.

Most Expensive Dog Breed

The most expensive dog was originally bred for fighting and guarding. Typically standing over 24 inches and weighing more than 100 lbs, it can be a terror if not socialized at an early age. The sport of dog fighting was popular in Bordeaux, France, and the Dogue de Bordeaux, or French Mastiff, proudly bears the city’s name.

The most expensive dog breed may trace its ancestry to the Alans/Alaunts, a breed of dog from the Middle Ages, or the Bulldog. It was known in France as early as the 14th century and was entered into its first show in the 1863. It wasn’t until the 1920’s, though, that the French Mastiff became a uniform breed. The dog was virtually unknown outside of France until the late 1800s and was threatened with extinction after WWII. In 1970, though, the Dogue de Bordeaux population began to grow again.

Famous French Mastiffs include Beasley, who starred alongside Tom Hanks in Turner & Hooch, and Mac, recently stolen from and returned to Dutch football player Andy van der Meyde.

A puppy from this expensive breed averages around $2300.

Breed categories

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The following are all the categories of dog breeds, most based on their appearance or working ability as well as others:

* Sighthounds;
* Scent hounds;
* Terriers;
* Spaniels;
* Spitz/Arctic dogs;
* Herding or Pastoral dogs;
* Guard dogs;
* Working dogs;
* Toy dog;
* Hunting dog;
* Cur dogs;
* Companions;
* Molosser;
* Extinct dog breeds.

Dog types (breed types)

Monday, February 25, 2008

There are 12 subcategories in this category, which are shown below. More may be shown on subsequent pages.

B
*Bulldog breeds

C
*Companion dogs

D
*Doodles

F
*Dog fighting breeds

H
*Hairless dogs
*Herding dogs
*Hounds

M
*Molossers

S
*Sled dog breeds
*Spaniels
*Sporting dogs

T
*Terriers

Mixed-breed dog

Thursday, February 14, 2008

A mixed-breed dog (also called a mutt, crossbreed, mongrel, a bitsa, tyke, cur, or random-bred dog) is a dog that has characteristics of more than two breeds, or is a descendant of feral or pariah dog populations. The term "mutt" generally refers to a dog of unknown descent. Dogs interbreed freely, except where extreme variations in size exist, so mixed-breed dogs vary in size, shape, and color, making them hard to classify physically.

A healthy mixed-breed with shiny coat and bright eyes

There is a profusion of words and phrases used for dogs that are not purebred. The words cur, tyke, and mongrel are some used, but generally viewed as derogatory in North America. In the United Kingdom mongrel is the unique technical word for a mixed-breed dog, and is not a term of disparagement. North American owners generally prefer mix or mixed-breed. Mutt is also used (in the U.S.A and Canada), usually in an affectionate manner. In Hawaii, mixed breed dogs are referred to as poi dog, and in the Bahamas, they call them Pot Cakes (referring to the table-leftovers they are fed). Some American registries and dog clubs that accept mixed-breed dogs use the breed name All American. In South Africa, the tongue-in cheek expression pavement special is sometimes used as a description for a mixed-breed dog. Random-bred dog, mutt, and mongrel are often used for dogs who result from breeding without the supervision or planning of humans, especially after several generations, whereas crossbreed implies mixes of known breeds, sometimes deliberately mated.

The Cockapoo results from deliberate crossbreeding.

In Brazil and the Dominican Republic, the name for mixed-breed dogs is vira-lata (vira: to turn, to bring down; lata: tin can, trash can) because there are dogs without owners that feed on urban garbage on the streets, and often knock over trash cans to reach the food. Therefore, by having stray dogs it seems to increase the amount of "mixed-breed" dogs.

Slang terms are also common. Heinz 57 is often used for dogs of uncertain ancestry, in a playful reference to the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company. In some countries, bitsa (or bitzer) is common, meaning "bits o' this, bits o' that". A fice or feist is a small mixed-breed dog. In Newfoundland, a smaller mixed-breed dog is known as a cracky, hence the colloquial expression "saucy as a cracky" for someone with a sharp tongue.

A mixed-breed dog demonstrates dog agility.

To complicate matters, many owners of crossbreed dogs identify them—often facetiously—by an invented breed name constructed from parts of their parents' breed names. These are known as portmanteau names. For example, a cross between a Pekingese and a Poodle is called a Peekapoo, possibly a play on peek-a-boo, along with the Goldendoodle, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. As another example, one of the UK's Queen Elizabeth's famous Corgis mated with her sister's Dachshund, and the resulting offspring were referred to as Dorgis.

Dog breeds

Monday, January 14, 2008

There are numerous dog breeds, with over 800 being recognized by various kennel clubs worldwide. Many dogs, especially outside the United States of America and Western Europe, belong to no recognized breed. A few basic breed types have evolved gradually during the domesticated dog's relationship with humans over the last 10,000 or more years, but all modern breeds are of relatively recent derivation. Many of these are the product of a deliberate process of artificial selection. Because of this, some breeds are highly specialized, and there is extraordinary morphological diversity across different breeds. Despite these differences, dogs are able to distinguish dogs from other kinds of animal.

A dog breed is a group of dogs, represented by a sufficient number of individuals to be interbred without forced inbreeding to stably transfer its specific characteristics over generations. Purebred dogs of same breed have similar characteristics of appearance and behavior, primarily because they come from a select set of ancestors who had the same characteristics. They are accommodated to certain natural and economic conditions and usually exploitation while differ from other breeds by exclusive conformation traits and working abilities.

Aboriginal groups or pariah dogs establish themselves near human population, and further develop and maintain themselves without further selection. Neither they carry any specialized working dog functions. Working, hunting and other functional breeds most likely appeared when there is a demand for certain traits that are prevalent to the extension of the point one can devote his time and efforts to establish and maintain the group of dogs that perfect in certain traits valuable for that individual.

Initially the selections would have centered on domestication and useful behavior such as barking at strange creatures, livestock guarding or hunting ability. Some dog breeds, such as Saluki or New Guinea Singing Dogs , have been bred for specific characteristics for thousands of years. Some working dog breeds such as German Shepherds or Labrador Retriever are established for hundreds years. Later, dogs were also selected for attractive and distinctive forms, resulting in a vast variety of different breeds. Similar dog breeds are classified by dog registries in Dog Breeds Groups.

At a certain point of dog breed development, group of individuals that have dogs of the same breed unite into a National Breed club, describe their dogs in a specific language by writing a breed standard. They describe the most desirable breed specimen and also specify working abilities, as well as undesirable traits for purebred dogs that can belong to this group of dogs. National Breed Clubs promote dog breeds by joining a local dog breed registry, as well as internationally, by joining international organizations. Many traditional dog breeds are recognized by the main breed registries are said to be "purebred".